The Joliet City Council is considering an ordinance that will no longer tolerate anyone who violates its rules and commits an offense on public property.

While the Joliet City Council Tuesday postponed a vote on an ordinance that outlines what will happen if someone commits offenses on public property that include Bicentennial Park, 201 W. Jefferson St.; City Square in downtown; Joliet City Hall, 150 W. Jefferson St.; Ottawa Street Parking Deck, 110 N. Ottawa St.; and any and all properties otherwise owned by the City of Joliet. Instead, the council will consider the proposed ordinance at its Tuesday, May 19, meeting, so questions from council members can be addressed.

If anyone commits an offense, according to the proposed ordinance, city officials said that person will be ordered to leave the premises and not be allowed to return for a set period. 

Applicable violations include disorderly conduct; nudity; vandalism; gambling; theft; criminal trespass to property; assault; battery; fighting; possession of burglary tools; possession of drug paraphernalia; and unlawful public gatherings, according to the ordinance under consideration.

According to the proposed statute, anyone who violates the ordinance on the first offense will be banned for six months from the specified property. Second violation consists of a ban of a year and a third or subsequent violation will consist of a lifetime ban from city-owned property.

Galowich, former YMCA approved for redevelopment

 The city council approved plans to redevelop the former Galowich Family YMCA at 749 Houbolt Road into an indoor and outdoor commercial recreation facility.

The YMCA closed and relocated to the Village of Shorewood in April after operating in Joliet since the 1980s.

Dustin Anderson, director of community development for the City of Joliet, said the applicant Dive Right In Scuba Inc. is requesting the variation for a business that will support around 30 to 35 employees at full operation.

The YMCA building has an indoor swimming pool, indoor basketball courts and a fitness center. The applicant wants to offer aquatic programming that includes swimming instruction; indoor basketball for a local youth organization; and training for scuba diving instruction.